Final year LEOT student off to France to study

I’m 17 years old and I live in PhanLuang village. I’m a student in my final year at Pasathipatay school. It’s a bilingual school.

I have been studying French for 10 years at primary and secondary school and then I went to study a special course at the French Institute in the evening.

At the French Institute, I studied for 2 years preparing for the DELF exam. It’s an exam to find out my level of French. Now, I have a level B2. It’s the minimum level to study in France, but it’s the maximum level for Lao people. To study Engineering at University they accept level B1.

I have now got a NTPC scholarship, from the Namtheun 2 Power Company, for studying in France for 2 years.

This is a scholarship for students who study at the bilingual school in Laos. Students have to pass a test and then if successful they have to train for a week, then have an interview and go to visit the company to observe their work. Afterwards there is a final interview, where they select the students to go and study in France. I was one of the lucky ones. After I finish my study in France, I will go back to work at the NTPC company for 5 years to repay the money for my scholarship.

I’m so glad and very excited because to study in France is my dream from when I was young. I love France and want to travel there. I think it’s very beautiful and romantic and if you also want to travel like me, then you should study hard, look for information about opportunities and take a chance.